The workshop “Collaborative research and practice promoting wellbeing and growth” belongs under the umbrella of an action research approach called Participatory and Appreciative Action Research (PAAR) and is illuminated across all challenges.
The three defining characteristics of PAAR are that it is participatory, appreciative and reflective in its approach to generating practical knowledge. It is an improvement-oriented, collaborative methodology. Collaborative research is a style of democratic research concerned with developing practical knowing in the pursuit of worthwhile human purposes. PAAR brings together action and reflection, with the participation of a range of stakeholders to identify and amplify current achievements and to produce practical solutions in misalignments between values and actions. PAAR actively draws upon participation and its associated process of deliberative democracy. Together these demonstrate a commitment to positively engage and provide equal opportunities for all those involved.
Collaborative research symbolizes a move away from deficit-based thinking and actions to more strengths-based ones. It is heavily influenced by the principles and processes of applied positive psychology. Over the last ten years in the Arctic, the collaborative methodology has been a part of many major, funded projects and local initiatives at municipality level. Collaborative research is the cornerstone of which the workshop will build upon.
– Rita Sørly/Arctic Youth